EastEnders fans should brace themselves for a harrowing emotional journey as Stacey Slater struggles to come to terms with the tragic loss of Martin Fowler. Following the devastating Queen Vic explosion, which tragically claimed Martin’s life shortly after he and Stacey rekindled their love amid the wreckage, Stacey has vanished from the Square, overwhelmed by grief and guilt.

Lacey Turner, who portrays Stacey, reveals that her character is spiraling out of control. Burdened by the belief that she is to blame for Martin’s death, Stacey is drowning in sorrow and resorting to alcohol in a desperate attempt to numb her pain. She feels undeserving of mourning him, convinced that her actions directly led to his demise. The emotional weight is becoming too much to bear, and Stacey returns to Walford a broken woman.

As Martin’s funeral looms, the pressure mounts. Tensions with Ruby Allen—Martin’s partner—remain unresolved. Ruby is still in the dark about Martin and Stacey’s final promise to remarry before he passed. Stacey, trying to spare Ruby more heartache, has kept the truth hidden, but the secret festers and fuels further conflict between the two women.

Turner hints that Stacey’s road to healing will be long and fraught with struggle. With three children to care for, Stacey must find the strength to carry on, even as her grief threatens to consume her. The emotional scars left by Martin’s death may never truly fade. As Stacey battles guilt, loss, and unresolved tensions, viewers can expect an intense and deeply moving storyline in the weeks ahead—one that will test her resilience and redefine her path forward.

Who will Stacey become in the wake of such loss? And will she ever find peace again? One thing’s certain: Walford will never be the same.